It takes a certain amount of courage to post creative stuff on a public forum, so I think guidelines should be followed to ensure a critique is not provocative, insulting, likely to damage someone's self-esteem. I've given and received reviews/crits on music composition, art and writing in classes and in workshops, and for the last four years was rated top Film Score and Song Reviewer at the Zoetrope Studios Forum, so I've an idea of what seems to work and be appreciated.
The guidelines that follow will be strictly enforced to ensure everyone gets max enjoyment from the forum, and so all can share their work confident it'll be discussed with the respect it deserves. It'd be great to see more people participate in the art comps and perhaps start a critting area in all the arts, too. If the forum has a professional approach to commenting and critting, it might attract more people to share their work and to give comments and advice to help and encourage us to improve ours.
* All criticism should be constructive, that is helpful rather than denigrating. Rather than flatly say a piece is amateurish or poor, try to pinpoint why something isn't working and offer advice on what might improve it, if you can. Most writing workshops have a rule that for every one or two negative comments, one positive comment be made.
* Comments should never be personal and should focus on the artwork, not the artist.
* We can't go wrong if we ask ourself before we post if this would be a comment we'd like to receive. Would it help or hurt? The goal should be to help someone rather than give offence.
* The crit can be as short and informal or as long and technical as you feel like giving.
* If an artist feels he has received unfair, offensive comments, you have the option of pm'ing me rather than blasting the critter, and I'll take whatever action necessary. This way the community doesn't have to wade through a war of words and things can be settled more amicably.
* Have fun!
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